I got a little hot-tempered today, in Facebook postings about the shutdown. If you're looking for ranting and diatribe here tonight, I offer apologies and the comment section. If you'd like a small moment of calm, then follow me below the dingledoodle squigglie dKosagnocchi dividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor...
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As I've mentioned before here, I don't confine my social interactions - be they online or realspace - to an echo chamber of compatible folk. I like being where different groups come together and (hopefully) find common ground. Which is why something I said in the heat of the moment this morning about a friend of a different political orientation needs discussing.
The specifics of our disagreement and of what I said in a comment on someone else's page set to public, thus allowing my friend to see, aren't relevant. Suffice it to say I challenged his self-labeled political identity and his intellect. He called me out on it privately, something for which I am grateful. Why? Because in this day and age it's far too easy to say "fuck you" and walk away from a relationship rather than say "hey that was out of line, y'know" and then work to fix things.
He's right, whether or not I agree with either his views or his assessments, it's not my job to decide what he gets to label himself, any more than it's his job to label me. And in doing so, I dropped my level of discourse down to that of the Republicans I am so angry at right now. I'm not a petulant three year old, and I expect better of myself. So I apologized for being out of line.
THEN, we had a discussion, and a good one at that. Which at the end of a long meander through many things, led to him saying "that's the core of the problem with all politics... get the money out of politics...." I replied "and on THAT, we absolutely, 100%, agree. Don't faint ::grin::"
My point is, and having had this discussion before here, I know we disagree on this :)... I seek common ground always. I believe there is always something, no matter how small, that binds us to one another. I found that today, and with it a measure of calm I'd lacked today. I can't offer you a conversation with someone you oppose, but I can offer a few moments of calm in the form of pictures from my vacation that didn't make the Vacation Diaries series. Enjoy... or get back to shutdown discussion in the comments. All's good here, because at the end of the day, we're a community and can handle it all :).
First up, a set of images taken by K1. She really let her inner photographer out on vacation, and it was a pleasure to watch her see, frame, and capture the shots:
Flowers near our Portland hotel:
Chalk drawings she found on the sidewalk:
"Really good Mac and Cheese" at the Bite of Portland, and who doesn't like comfort food:
Hill at the Johnson Ridge Observatory near Mount St. Helens:
Mr. Brillig took this calm image at the Seattle Aquarium:
I took the rest, I think, although if either K1 or Mr. Brillig recognize their work (2000 pictures, shared cameras!) I'm happy to edit credit :) :)
Sculpture at Sleeping Lady in the Cascades of WA:
Tangled starfish at the Seattle Aquarium:
A variety of shots from our day at Mount St. Helens. Such beauty amidst the scars of intense destruction really spoke to me:
The last image, well... my Monday "pretty coffee" with several dear friends always begins my week with something beautiful, delicious, and with a side of wonderful conversation and company:
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From lone1c:
Nominated this one by The Geogre for a very straightforward explanation of why the GOP is so screwed up.
From LinSea:
For it's truthiness ;^), paradise50's response to thread originating here in today's New Day.
From Puddytat:
I don't want anyone to miss this diary-worthy comment by GrumpyOldGeek. Hopefully, this will come to us one day as a full diary. Until then, enjoy what we have.
From (edited to Anonymous as my initial idea of who sent it in was wrong):
Loge deserves to be showered with candied rose petals for this one.
From Wee Mama:
Best simple summary of the shutdown, by ScrewySquirrel.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
From Laura Clawson's World War II veterans bypass barricades at memorial closed by Republican shutdown, by zenbassoon because I'm happy to recognize ineptitude no matter which party.
statsone raises an interesting question in Joan McCarter's Obamacare so in demand that sites are overwhelmed
Top Mojo for yesterday, September 30th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
1) Thanks, Joe. by Timaeus — 229
2) I love how wingnut enablers by LeftHandedMan — 180
3) I'm pleaseantly surprised by Reid's battle words by Blazehawkins — 127
4) It's the best diary I've seen in days, by Youffraita — 125
5) If this gets no traction by gjohnsit — 118
6) all i see from them is pure fear by AntonBursch — 103
7) Timaeus: God Bless! by exlrrp — 100
8) We periodically enacted provisions, to by blue in NC — 88
9) From where I sit, by Youffraita — 87
10) 28K, lots of unpaid overtime. by patbahn — 85
11) one clear sign of panic by Laurence Lewis — 84
12) I'll keep you in thoughts and prayers by joedemocrat — 84
13) I dropped my hammer and accidentally built a by 88kathy — 82
14) Maybe the GOP staff needs to form a union? by CTMET — 81
15) It's baby steps. The more people learn by voracious — 80
16) Timaeus--my thoughts will be with you....and by bibble — 79
17) They thought that they were immune because by nchristine — 78
18) Maslow's gun - Its just a tool! by josephk — 77
19) Trent F'in Lott? A voice of reason? by Mike Kahlow — 77
20) Well, of course it NEVER "ends." by StellaRay — 77
21) Baby steps it is by Dingodude — 74
22) I.e., they still can't accept the results of the by murasaki — 74
23) It's Kind of pointless by NorthBronxDem — 73
24) The earlier attempts to compromise.... by sagesource — 73
25) And it should come by ask — 70
26) When Peter King Is Classified As a "Moderate"... by RoIn — 67
27) Don't forget the automobile - that is their by MRA NY — 65
28) Rhetoric fail by Horace Boothroyd III — 65
29) yeah, I can't believe it by djsands — 65
30) My very Republican local paper, by ahumbleopinion — 65
31) Yes, but deregulating everything including... by Ralphdog — 65
Top
Pictures Cats (seriously, the same picture in multiple comments gets this much mojo? Really?) for yesterday, September 30th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!